dramas are up; some reality is down.

dramas are up; some reality is down. A sure sign that the apocalypse is near: Last week, ABC had the most popular show on TV, and also won the week among viewers 18 to 49, news that certainly caused more than one executive to choke on his or her brandy. Although the second most popular show was a reality TV show, Survivor Vanuatu, other reality shows aren’t doing as well. As USA TODAY puts it, “A fall season with more reality shows than ever has led to early casualties for some newcomers–and steep declines for some established veterans.” If that seems obvious, well, it is; even FOX’s Mike Darnell understands it, saying, “The more quantity you get of something, the more likely you’ll see failure.” Another FOX exec tells The New York Times, “Reality isn’t going away, but we’ll probably see it fall into a pattern where there’s some success and a majority of failure.”

reality TV news and reviews, in your inbox

One hand-crafted message sent every Friday. Free. Subscribe now:

about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Pacific Standard, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association, Andy, 40, directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. More about reality blurred and Andy.

stay connected with reality TV

Get advice about what to watch and keep up with the latest in reality television with reality blurred's e-mail newsletter. Just enter your e-mail address:

about reality blurred

reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.